Uganda Airlines starts recruitment

Kampala.

Uganda National Airlines Company, the parent company of the new national carrier - Uganda Airlines, has put out an advertisement for several positions as the country prepares for the return of the “flying crane” 19 years after it closed shop.
Some of the positions advertised include; Directors for maintenance and engineering, commercial and finance. Corporate quality manager, human resource, ground operations, sales and marketing, cabin services and engineering and planning managers are also listed on the available job offers.

Openings
Also advertised are manager pricing and revenue management, Station Managers, Manager Information Technology, Manager Operations Control Centre, procurement manager, chief pilot, managers sales office, cabin crew and human resource officers. Customer service supervisor, reservation and ticketing officers, financial accountant, flight dispatcher, executive assistant to CEO, sales office supervisor, first officer (co-pilot), manager maintenance, revenue accountant and drivers are other positions on offer.
Passenger service agent, manager security, manager safety ticketing agents and IT systems controller complete the list of the available job offers.
“Successful candidates will have a “can do attitude” with a genuine passion for delivering outstanding customer service, in a fast-paced environment,” the advert published in the Wednesday edition of Daily Monitor reads.
However, the advert does not specify whether the offers are for Ugandans or are open to foreign nationals. In some of the senior positions, the advert says the holders of such positions must be approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Mr Ephraim Bagenda, the Chief Executive Officer of the airlines did not respond to our repeated calls. He also failed to respond to text messages. An official who answered to the official phone, but did not identify himself, referred us to the Ministry of Works for any clarifications regarding the airline recruitments.
“Please for all the inquiries about the recruitment contact the minister of works directly. I am unable to answer your questions,” he said before hanging up.
Ms Monica Ntege Azuba, the Works and Transport minister, was also unavailable for comments. The ministry spokesperson, Ms Susan Kataike, referred us back the company Human resource office, saying they are the right people to clarify.
In an earlier interview, Mr Amos Wekesa, the Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes Safaris, one of the largest tour companies in the country, advised the government to look beyond the borders. He said there are many Ugandans working in senior positions with foreign airlines and that services of such people would be of great advantage.
“We cannot pretend that it’s not taking off, there is no doubt anymore. It’s already here and it will fly. However, government should ensure that it’s run by qualified and professional people to be competitive. We have many Ugandans working with the major global airlines. So let’s get such people to manage our new airline,” he said.

Airlines management
Mr Bageya Waiswa, the permanent Secretary of ministry of Works and Transport, in July this year said the management of the airline will be in the hands of competent managers, under the stewardship of the board with strategies aligned to the economic objectives of the country.
Uganda Airlines is expected to take to the skies between February and April next year, with a number of regional routes using Bombardier CRJ900 aircrafts and later international routes when the Airbus A330-800 planes are delivered. According to the available information, the airline will operate scheduled and non-scheduled passenger and cargo flights to destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East and beyond as it expands its network across the world.